Limb oscillator

ABSTRACT

A device for oscillating the legs of a patient comprises a vertical center member having means for mounting said member upon a base, a horizontal member moveably mounted on said vertical center member such that the point of mounting provides a fulcrum around which said horizontal member can oscillate, vertical end members extending downward from near the ends of said horizontal member, said vertical end members being provided with stirrups for supporting the feet of the patient and means for oscillating said horizontal member about said fulcrum, thereby alternately raising and lowering the legs supported by the stirrups.

United States Patent [191 Chaitin 111 3,724,450 [451 Apr. 3, 1973 [54] LIMB OSCILLATOR [76] Inventor: Horace Chaitin, 6 Peppermill Road,

Roslyn, N.Y. 11576 [22] Filed: May 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 140,337

52 us. Cl. ..128/25 R 51 rm. Cl. ..A61h 1/02 581 Field of Search ..128/24, 25, 25 B, 48, 49;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,777,439 l/l957 Tuttle ..l28/25 R 3,605,732 9/1971 Rapoza ..l28/25 B 2,226,881 12/1940 Voiles ..l28/25 R 2,832,595 4/1958 Hastings ..l28/25 R Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney.loel F. Spivak [57] ABSTRACT A device for oscillating the legs of a patient comprises a vertical center member having means for mounting said member upon a base, a horizontal member moveably mounted on said vertical center member such that the point of mounting provides a fulcrum around which said horizontal member can oscillate, vertical end members extending downward from near the ends of said horizontal member, said vertical end members being provided with stirrups for supporting the feet of the patient and means for oscillating said horizontal member about said fulcrum, thereby alternately raising and lowering the legs supported by the stirrups.

13 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDAPRS I975 3.724450 INVENTOR.

f/aeeri 0/4/7/4/ LIMB OSCILLATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device which is useful to maintain blood circulation of a patient in surgery and to provide exercise of the limbs with minimum or no effort on the part of the patient. I

There has been and is a need in the field of medicine for a simple device which can aid in the maintenance of circulation in a patient undergoing surgery. The maintenance of circulation during surgery decreases the risk of incurring peripheral phlebothrombosis and embolism in the patient.

In addition to the need for a device for maintaining circulation during surgery, this same need exists in many cases in the sick room where the patient cannot move or should not exert himself. For example, paralytics, those suffering from a cerebrovascular accident and cardiac patients, are those who can take advantage of a device which will aid in the maintenance of circulation or exercise the muscles without effort on the part of the patient.

The novel invention fulfills the aforementioned needs of the surgical and sick room patients by providing oscillating movement of the limbs which in turn aids in circulation of the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for imparting oscillating movement of the limbs comprises a horizontal member moveably mounted about a fulcrum, means associated with said member for supporting the limbs and means for causing oscillation of said horizontal member about said fulcrum, thereby .causing movement of said limbs supported by said device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The FIGURE is an elevational view of a novel leg oscillator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the Figure, there is shown an embodiment of the invention comprising a vertical central member 12 set into a base 14 which is provided with means, such as a clamp 16, for mounting and support ing the device on a table 18 or other fixed object. The central member 12 preferably consists of two parts, a lower part 20 and an upper part 22. The two parts are made so that one telescopes within the other so as to permit adjustment of the height of the central bar. Means for locking the bar at a desired height, such as a set screw 24 is provided.

A horizontal cross member 26 is pivotally mounted at its center on the upper part 22 of the central member 12, near the top thereof so as to provide arms 28 and 30 of essentially equal lengths, which can rotate about a fulcrum at said center. Each arm, 28 and 30, of the horizontal cross member 26 is provided with a swivel joint, 32 and 34, respectively. A vertical end member 36 and 38, respectively, extends downwardly from each of the swivel joints 32 and 34. The swivel joints 32 and 34 may be of a permanent type, such as where rivets are employed, or may be made with a screw and nut so that the end members 36 and 38 are easily removable from the horizontal member.

A set of stirrups 40 and 42 into which the limbs can rest are mounted at the lower end of each of the end members 36 and 38. The stirrups 40 and 42 are preferably pivotally and removably mounted thereon such as by means of a screw and nut 44 and 46, respectively. Alternatively, the stirrups may be suspended from a chain so as to be free to move in all directions. In addition, each stirrup is preferably provided with a soft padding 48 in the region where the limb rests.

The swivel joints 32 and 34 at each end of the horizontal member 26 permits the end members 36 and 38 to be folded inwardly. The horizontal member 26 can also rotate to a vertical position so that it will be in parallel with the central member. This folding arrangement permits easy and non-bulky storage of the oscillator when not in use.

In addition to the above members, the device is provided with means 50 for causing oscillation of the horizontal member 26 about the central member 12. Examples of means for causing such oscillation include a spring loaded clock type mechanism which may also be equiped with a timer and, a motor which is preferably of the explosion-proof type and which is provided with switching means for reversing itself after a certain time interval or degree of movement (the motor may also be provided with a timer for automatically stopping the oscillator). Rotatable oscillation can also be caused where the horizontal member can move horizontally about the fulcrum such that the length of one of the arms, 28 and 30, alternately become shorter and longer than the other arm. This alternately changes the torque or moment about the fulcrum such that each end will alternately rise and fall.

It is preferred that any metal parts of the device be non-magnetic. Also, if additional supports are desired, they may be attached to the central member as shown by the dotted lines in the drawing. These supports 52 and 54 are shown as strut-like pieces attached to the central member 12.

In operation of the oscillator, the oscillator is first mounted to a support and the stirrups and other members positioned as shown in the figure. The patients limbs are then supported in the stirrups and the oscillator is activated preferably for a preselected period of time by activating the means for causing oscillation. The alternate rotation of the arms of the horizontal member is communicated to the two end members and the stirrups as an up and down movement. Where the stirrup is suspended by a chain or spring, some forward and back movement will also occur.

It should be understood that the horizontal arm can be made to pivot or oscillate in a horizontal plane rather than a vertical plane such that the motion imparted to the limbs will primarily be forward and back motion rather than an up and down motion. Also, the vertical end members can be rigid or non-rigid.

I claim l. A device for imparting oscillating movement of the limbs of a person comprising a horizontal member movably mounted above a fulcrum, means associated with said horizontal member for supporting the limbs and means coupled to said horizontal member for causing oscillations of said member about said fulcrumthereby causing movement of said limbs supported by said device, including a central vertical member to which said horizontal member is movably mounted and 3. The device recited in claim 1 wherein oscillation -of said horizontal member is essentially in a vertical plane.

4. The device recited in claim 1 wherein oscillation of said horizontal member is in a horizontal plane.

5. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said vertical end members are rigid.

6. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said end members are non-rigid.

7. The device recited in claim 1 including means attached to said central vertical member for mounting said device on a support.

8. The device recited in claim 7 wherein said central vertical member comprises two sections, one section telescoping within the other to provide height adjustment of said device, and means for maintaining said height at a desired position.

9. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said limb accepting member comprises stirrups mounted at the lower part of said end members.

10. The device recited in claim 9 wherein said stirrups are padded. I

11. The device recited in claim 9 wherein said verti cal end members and said stirrups are removable from.

' said device.

12. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said vertical end members are rotatably mounted on said horizontal member.

13. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said horizontal member and said vertical-end members are rotatably mounted in a manner so as to allow said device to be folded for storage. 

1. A device for imparting oscillating movement of the limbs of a person comprising a horizontal member movably mounted above a fulcrum, means associated with said horizontal member for supporting the limbs and means coupled to said horizontal member for causing oscillations of said member about said fulcrum thereby causing movement of said limbs supported by said device, including a central vertical member to which said horizontal member is movably mounted and wherein said means for supporting the limbs comprise in combination vertical end members extending downwardly from near the ends of said horizontal member, said end members having limb accepting means thereon.
 2. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said means coupled to said horizontal member for causing oscillation of said member comprises a motor provided with means selected from gear means and switch means for causing said oscillating movement, said motor being of the explosion proof type.
 3. The device recited in claim 1 wherein oscillation of said horizontal member is essentially in a vertical plane.
 4. The device recited in claIm 1 wherein oscillation of said horizontal member is in a horizontal plane.
 5. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said vertical end members are rigid.
 6. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said end members are non-rigid.
 7. The device recited in claim 1 including means attached to said central vertical member for mounting said device on a support.
 8. The device recited in claim 7 wherein said central vertical member comprises two sections, one section telescoping within the other to provide height adjustment of said device, and means for maintaining said height at a desired position.
 9. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said limb accepting member comprises stirrups mounted at the lower part of said end members.
 10. The device recited in claim 9 wherein said stirrups are padded.
 11. The device recited in claim 9 wherein said vertical end members and said stirrups are removable from said device.
 12. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said vertical end members are rotatably mounted on said horizontal member.
 13. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said horizontal member and said vertical end members are rotatably mounted in a manner so as to allow said device to be folded for storage. 